Howlett, Thibault put Westhill track on the map

Updated 9:59 pm, Saturday, June 22, 2013

Thibault was a lacrosse player who ventured to indoor track as a conditioning tool, then at the suggestion of a friend decided to try the pole vault.

Howlett took up running because, well, athletically she felt like she didn't have anywhere else to run.

What Thibault and Howlett now share is a feat that previously would have been difficult to comprehend at Westhill High School, redirecting the spotlight away from baseball and softball and onto the track.

In one of the best years for the sport in FCIAC history, Thibault and Howlett were two of the breakout stars, capping off memorable spring seasons by combining to take home three State Open titles.

Latest Sports Video

Thibault won the pole vault with a height of 15 feet, while Howlett swept both the 1,600 and 3,200, setting a state record in the latter. Howlett, a junior, shone even brighter at the New Balance Boys & Girls Outdoor Track National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. At nationals, Howlett placed fifth in the 5000, finishing in 16:45.56. The time is a new Connecticut state record, smashing the old mark of 17:47.16 set in 2011.

Thibault, a senior who will be competing next year at the University of Rhode Island, shared Howlett's wonderment at coming so far, so fast.

"If you told me I'd be doing 15 (feet) when I started, it was kind of far-fetched," Thibault said. "At the end of the first year I was doing 13."

Howlett said the notion she would be excelling in anything athletically prior to her arrival at Westhill was unrealistic.

"I wasn't really good at any sport," Howlett said. "I don't have good hand-eye coordination. I was never much of an athlete. I completely failed at soccer. I ran a little in 8th grade and I started running cross country as a freshman and just loved it."

Howlett developed a strong rivalry the past three weeks with Staples' outstanding freshman, Hannah DeBalsi, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 at the FCIAC championships. The two each had a victory and second-place finish at the Class LL meet before Howlett's stunning performance at the State Open. DeBalsi then took nearly nine seconds off the record time at the New England championships.

"It was nice to see all the training really pay off," said Howlett, who finished third in the 1,600 at the New England meet. "My times really dropped and I was running against great competition, like Hannah and Cate Allen at Warde. Running against them helped my performance. I really admire them."

Thibault said it was difficult to account for his rise in one of track's most difficult events.

"I'm not too sure why I was so successful," said Thibault, who no heighted at nationals. "My friend got me into it. After a while I just took off."

Thibault took second place at the New England championships, clearing 14-9.

Besides sharing success on the track, both Thibault and Howlett have the desire to make sure the sport becomes better entrenched at Westhill.

Howlett shared the sentiment, though she admitted being more hopeful than confident about the eventual outcome.

"Westhill is one of the biggest schools in Fairfield County and also has one of the smallest track teams," Howlett said. "In cross country we had five girls. Wilton had about 55. I think it is perceived negatively. Not a lot of people want to do track at Westhill. It's not considered cool. It's too bad, because we have a lot of good athletes."